Infant&#39;s bathing device



June 13, 1939. D. M. KENNEDY mmn'r' s BATHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1938@Sheets-Sheet l D INVENIOR e BY Wlt'enneagr Wrm" ATTORNEYS June 1939- D.M. KENNEDY INFANTS BATHING DEVICE 3 Sheet s-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 50, 1938I I INVENTOR. BY fieW eyl'ffl eiuzeqiy KMPQ ATTORNEYS June 3, 1939- D.M. KENNEDY INFANTS BATHING DEVICE I Filed Aug. so, 1958 s Sheds-Sheet 5IN VENT OR.

ATTORNEYS Patented 1m 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to infants bathing de vices of the type such asdisclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,102,959, issuedDecember 21, 1937, which inciudesa folding tub, a collapsible support"therefor, and a flexible dressing table associated therewith andadapted for movement to and from a stretched active position overlyingthe tub and spanning opposite sides thereof. i

The present invention comprehends an improved device of the indicatedcharacter which embodies means for automatically taking up the slack inthe dressing table when the same is moved from active to inactiveposition and for disposing the dressing table in an inactiveoutof-the-way position at one side of the tub.

The invention further comprehends an infants bathtub and associatedsupport therefor which includes a flexible dressing table adapted to bemoved to a stretched active horizontal position in spanning relation toopposite side edges of and overlying the tub and resilient means fortaking up the slack and stretching the same in an upright positionexterior of the tub when the same is moved from active to inactiveposition.

As a further feature the invention embodies in a bathing device having acollapsible cross leg support, a bail having arms pivoted to one pair ofthe cross legs of said support and'a blght portion to which one edge ofthe dressing table is attached, the bail being so constructed as toprovide means for interengagement with the opposite pair of legs of thesupport to lock and retain the cross leg support in extended set upcondition and the dressing table in stretched active position therebyobviating the necessity of employing stay hinges to retain the cross legstructure in its extended set up condition.

The invention further resides in the provision of a bail for swingablymoving the dressing table toand from its active position, in which thepivoted terminals of the bail arms are detachably associated with thesupport so that when detached the bail may be compactly nested with thefolded tub and collapsed support to occupy a minimum amount of space forstorage and shipment.

With these and other objects in view, the invention is set forth ingreater detail in the following specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an infant's bathing device illustratingthe dressing table in anintermediate position.

Fig. 2 is a tion.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the dressing table in its inactiveposition.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the device in collapsedcondition with the dressing table bail detached from the support andarranged in nested relation therewith.

Fig. 5 is a side view, of a modified form of the I invention with partsbroken away and illustrating the dressing table in its active position.

Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating the dressing table in its inactiveposition. I i

' Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the deviceincludes a foldable bathtub A and a collapsible support therefordesignated generally 'by the reference character B which supportconsists of a pair of front legs l0 and a pair of'rear legs II, the samebeing connected adjacent their upper endsiiy longitudinally extendingbars I! and respectively. Adjacent legs of the pairs oflegs i0 and Iiare pivotally connected to each other intermediate their ends by pivotpins H so that the pairs of legs may be swung from a substantiallyparallel collapsed relation, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to an extendedset up position as illustrated in the remaining figures of the drawings.

The upper opposite longitudinal side edges of the bathtub A are securedto the longitudinally extending bars l2 and It to support the tubtherefrom and to dispose the same in opened position depending from theupper ends of the legs when the same are in extended set up relation.

A screen guard; designated generally by the reference character C, is,provided and the same comprises an inverted U-shaped wire frame l5 overwhich is stretched a fabric panel IS. The side arms of the wire frame 15are provided with ofl'set depending terminals I'I removably fitted inopenings in the longitudinal bar It whereby the screen guard may bedisplaced from the support B for storage and shipment,

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, adressing table, designated generally by the reference character D, isprovided which consists of a flexible sheet of material it, thelongitudinal rear edge I! of which is anchored throughout its length tothe longitudinal bar is constituting a rigid linear element forextending said edge I! longitudinally of the rear edge of the tub A. Theopposite longitudinal forward edge 20 of the dressing table is hemmed toprovide a longitudinally extending tunnel and the material 18 is of asumcient width to extend across the tub in spanning relation to theopposite longitudinal edges thereofwhen the same is in setup condition.

' In order to provide means for moving the dressing table from active toinactive position, a

bail, designated generally by the reference charco acter E, is employedwhich consists of a bight 2| and angularlydisposed side arms 22, thefree ends of which arms are outturned to provide trunnions-fl journaledin bearing openings 24 in the legs I .I so as to mount the bail forswinging movement on .the support B. The bight 2! extends through thetunnel formed by the hem at the longitudinal edge 20 of the dressingtable' and said bight serves as a 'rigidlinear element for extendingsaid edge 20 longitudinally of the forward edge of the tub A. The bail Ewhen swung forwardly to dispose the bight 2i adjacent the longitudinalbar l2 stretches the dressing table transversely to an active horizontalposition arranged in spanning relation to the opposite side edges of andoverlying the tub as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When thebail E is swung rearwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings,the dressing table is moved to an inactive position at the rear of thetub.

For the purpose of locking and retaining the cross leg support 13 in itsextended set up condition, the side arms 22 of the bail adjacent theirjuncture with the bight 2| are formed with ofl'set hooked portions 25which engage with the iongitudinal bar l2. This obviates the necessityof employing stay hinges for locking and retaining the leg structure inextended set up condition. The bight 2i intermediate its ends is formedwith a downwardly and outwardly offset handle 26 which also functions toengage over the longitudinal bar l2 to serve as a latch for locking thedressing table in stretched active position, as illustrated in Fig.2 ofthe drawings.

In order to automatically take up the ,slack in the dressing table andto dispose the same exterior of the tub when the table is moved to itsinactive position, a rear bail F is provided which includes alongitudinally extending bight portion 28 and angularlydisposed sidearms 29 having outwardly directed'terminals 30 at the free ends whicharejournaled in bearing openings 31 in the legs I I. The bight portion 28of the rear bail F extends longitudinally beneath the dressing table inrear of the rear rod ll adjacent the anchored longitudinal rear edge iiof the dressing table, so that when the bail E is swung rearwardly todispose the dressing table in its inactive position, the rear bail Fautomatically swings rearwardly and downwardly to the position shown inFig; 3 to thereby take up the slack? in the dressing table by forming afold therein,

thus stretching the table in an upright position exterior of the tub.While the rear bail F may be of suflicient weight; to automaticallyswing downwardly by gravity, in practice it has been found desirable toutilize one or more torsion springs- 32 for this purpose which spring,as shown, is provided with a coil 33 surrounding the terminal .30 of theball with one extremity ll of the spring anchored to the leg II and withthe free end of the remaining extremity 35 thereof surrounding the arm29 of the rear bail. I

The material ll of the dressing table Dis of a length corresponding tothe length of the tub, and the side arms of the screen guard frame IIare spaced aparta distance suflicient to permit the material ll of thedressing table to pass therebetween when the table is moved to and fromits active position. Y

In the form '01 the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of thedrawings, theconstruction of the tub A, the support 13, the screen guardC and the bail E is identical with the previously described form. Thedressing table D in this form is contends the bight ll of a rear bail Gand said bight ll serves as a rigid linear element for extending therear edge of the dressing table longitudinally of the rear edge of thetub A when the dressing table is in its active position. The rear bail Ghas angularlydisposedside arms which are provided with outturnedterminals 43 journaled in bearing openings in the legs ii. In thisinstance,- the arms 42 of the rear bail G are of greater length than thearms of the rear bail F so that when the bail E is swung rearwardly todisposethe dressing table in its inactive position, the rear bail Gautomatically swings rearwardly and downwardly to the position shown inFig. 6 to move the rear edge 40 downwardly to a position to stretch thedressing table material It in an upright position between the bights 2|and M thus taking up theslack therein. In this instance, the bail G ispreferably provided with a torsion spring identical with the torsionspring 32 of the preceding form of the invention to effect automaticdownward swinging thereof and to tension the same against upwardswinging movement.

In use with the dressing table in the inactive position shown in Fig. 6,when the bail E is swung forwardly and downwardly'to the position shownin Fig. 5, the rear edge 40 of the dressing table material will be drawnupwardly thereby swinging the bail-G to the position shown in Fig. 5where the arms 42 thereof contact with the rear longitudinal rod i3 ofthe support. This effects the stretching of the dressing table D in ahorizontal active position arranged in spanning relation to the oppositesides of and overlying the tub. When in the inactive position shown inFig. 6, the dressing table will be disposed in an upright stretchedposition in rear and exterior of the tub.

What is claimed is: e

1. In an infant's bathtub and associated support therefor, a flexibledressing table adapted to be moved to a stretched active horizontalposition in spanning relation to opposite side edges of and overlyingthe tub, and automatic means for taking up the slack and stretching thetable in an upright position exterior of the tub when support connectedrespectively with the opposite ends of one of said elements for mountingthedressing table for movement to and from a stretched active horizontalposition in spanning relation to opposite sideedges of and overlying thetub, and means cooperatively functioning with said arms when thedressing table is moved from active to inactive position to take up theslack and stretch-the dressing table in an upright position exterior ofthe tub.

3. In an infant's bathtub and associated support therefor, a flexibledressing table anchored along one edge to the support adjacent to andabove the rear of the tub, meansextending longitudinally oi and attachedto the forward free dressing table is moved from active to inactiveposition. 4

d. In an infant's bathtub and associated foldable support therefor, asheet of flexible material anchored along one edge to the supportadiacent to and above the rear of the tub, means extendinglongitudinally of and attached to the forward free edge of said sheetand having pivotal engagement with said support for swinging movement tothereby move the sheet from an inactive position at the rear oi? the tubto a stretched position overlying the tub, and to swing rearwardly tothereby move the sheet from a stretched position overlying the tub to aninactive position adjacent the rear thereof, means extendinglongitudinally of the dressing table adjacent the rear thereof forautomatically taking up the slack in said sheet of material and forstretching the same in an upright position exterior of the tub-when thedressing table is moved from active to inactive position, andinterengageable means on said support and said first named meansforJocking the dressing table -in stretched active position and thesupport in extended set up condition.

5. In an infant'sbathtub and associated foldable support therefor, asheet of flexible material anchored along one edge to the supportadjacent to and above the rear of the tub, means extendinglongitudinally of and attached to the forward free edge of said sheetand having pivotal engagement with said support for swinging movement tothereby move the sheet from an inactive position at the rear of the tubto a stretched position overlying the tub, and to swing rearwardly tothereby move the sheet from a stretched position overlying the tub to aninactive position adjacent the rear thereof, and interengageable meanson said support and on said first named means for locking the dressingtable in stretched active position and the support in extended set upcondition.

6. In an infant's bathtub and associated foldable support therefor, aflexible dressing table including a sheet of, flexible material, meanssecured to and extending longitudinally of the opposite longitudinaledges of said sheet for extending said edges longitudinally, said meansextending longitudinally of the forward edge having pivotal engagementwith said support for swinging movement to move the sheet from aninactive position at the rear of the tub, to a stretched positionoverlying the tub, and interongageable means on said support and on themeans extending longitudinally of and secured to said forward edge ofsaid sheet of material for locking the dressingtable in stretched activeposition overlying the tub and the support in extended set up condition.I

'1. In an infants bathtub and associated support therefor, a bail havinga-bight portion and' side arms pivoted at their free ends tothesupportso that the bight portion of the ball is swung over the tub froman elevated position overly ng the rear edge thereof to the forwardedge.

a dressing table consisting of a sheet of flexible material having itsforward edge extending Ion-1 gitudinally of and attached to the bightportion of the bail, a rear bail having a bight portion and side armspivoted at their free ends to said support to swing to and from 'aposition adjacent the rear of the tub, the rear edge of said dressingtable extending longitudinally of and secured to the bight portion ofsaid rear bail, and means for automatically effecting the downwardswinging movement of the hight portion of said rear bail for taking upthe slack in said dressing table when the first mentioned bail is endingrearwardly and for tensioning the upward swinging movement of said bailand for stretching the dressing table in active position overlying thetub and in spanning relation thereto when the flrst mentioned ball isswung forwardly.

8. In an infant's bathtub and associated support therefor, a sheet offlexible material, a forward bail having a hight portion and side armspivoted to the support, and a rear bail having a bight portion and sidearms pivoted to said support, said sheet of flexible material beingsecured at its opposite longitudinal edges to the bightportionsrespcctively of said forward and rear balls and said sheet oimaterial being positioned to serve as a dressing table by swinging thebails about their pivots in a direction to stretch the sheet above thetub and being positioned to permit the use of the tub for bathing byswinging the balls about their pivots in the opposite direction.

9. In an infants bathing device having a foldable support includinglongitudinal connecting bars and a collapsible tub carried thereby, theimprovement which comprises a sheet of flexible material having frontand rear longitudinal edges, a separate linear element connected to eachlongitudinal edge or the flexible material,

pivotal means connecting each linear element to nal connecting bars'anda collapsible tub car ried thereby,

the improvement which comprises a sheet of flexible material havingfront and rear longitudinal edges, said rear longitudinal edge beingoperatively anchored to the rear longitudinal bar, a linear elementconnected to the front longitudinal edge of said sheet. a side armconnected to each end of the linear element and pivotally connected tothe support. said linear element being swingable on theside arms from 'aposition near the rear-longitudinal bar in which the, flexible materialis in an inactive position to a position adjacent the front longitudinalbar in which the flexible material is stretched to an active positionabove the tub to serve as a dressing ,table when the support is in itsextended set-up position, and locking means for seeming thelinear'elementin its positioh adjacent the front longitudinal bar. saidarmsbeing arranged to oppose the tensionin the flexible material tendingto close the support whereby the sup-

